A group of seven people were rescued from the roof and window of a block of flats on fire in Shepherd’s Bush in the early hours of this morning (November 17).

Firefighters rescued one person from the roof of the second floor flat in Stanlake Road near QPR's Loftus Road stadium , four people from a first floor window where the fire started and two people from the ground floor flat after being called at 3.55am.

The two people on the ground floor were trapped in their flat by the fire and were given vital fire survival guidance over the phone by 999 call handlers who stayed on the phone until firefighters in breathing apparatus arrived.

Watch manager John Bishops was the first fire officer at the scene. He said: “On arrival there was a lot of smoke pouring out from the property and as control officers had informed me people were still inside the building I quickly committed a rescue team in breathing apparatus and requested further fire engines to help with the rescuing of several people on the upper floors and roof who were calling for help.”

Part of the four-roomed first floor flat was damaged by fire and all seven people were treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service.

Station manager, Nic Myatt, added: “The firefighters hard work and quick thinking saved the lives of those they rescued.”

Fire engines from Kensington, Hammersmith and North Kensington fire stations were at the incident and the fire was under control by 4.46am.